Southern University

BATON ROUGE, LA — Christian Johnson threw for 200 yards and two touchdowns, Trey Holly scored twice on the ground and Southern University used a game-changing defensive score to beat Kentucky State 34-15 Saturday night at A.W. Mumford Stadium.

Johnson completed 15 of 28 passes without an interception as Southern (1-1) overcame a scoreless opening quarter and pulled away with 27 points across the second and third quarters. He connected with Isaiah Pina for a 4-yard touchdown just before halftime and Champ Davis for a 25-yard score in the third quarter. 

Holly provided the balance on the ground, finishing with 99 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries. Southern rushed for 172 yards and averaged 4.6 yards per carry, giving the Jaguars 372 yards of total offense. 

But the play that changed the complexion of the game came from the defense. With the game scoreless early in the second quarter, linebacker Tay James intercepted Kentucky State and returned it 85 yards for a touchdown, putting Southern ahead 7-0. Kentucky State answered with a safety, but Johnson directed a six-play, 65-yard drive in the final 35 seconds of the half and hit Pina from 4 yards out with seven seconds remaining to send Southern into halftime ahead 13-2. 

Southern seized control after halftime. Holly capped an eight-play, 70-yard march with a 16-yard touchdown run for a 20-2 advantage. Johnson then drove the Jaguars 77 yards in six plays, finishing it with his 25-yard touchdown pass to Davis to make it 27-2 with 5:09 remaining in the third quarter.  

Southern's defense finished with five sacks, 10 tackles for loss and five pass breakups, while holding Kentucky State to 5-of-17 on third down and 0-for-4 on fourth down. Ckelby Givens led the pressure with two sacks and three tackles for loss. James added six tackles, a sack and the 85-yard interception return. 

Holly put the game away with 1:08 remaining, scoring from 12 yards out to complete a seven-play, 55-yard drive and provide the final margin. The victory came before 15,094 fans on a rainy, 85-degree night at A.W. Mumford Stadium. 

Keys to victory

• Johnson's efficiency: Johnson's 200-yard night wasn't built on volume. He averaged 13.3 yards per completion, threw two touchdowns and, most importantly, did not turn the ball over. Southern also did not allow a sack. 
• A balanced ground game: Southern outrushed Kentucky State 186-133, with Holly accounting for 107 yards and two scores. Mike Franklin added 46 yards on six carries. 
• The defensive difference: Southern outgained Kentucky State 386-372, but Southern produced the game's only takeaway and turned it directly into seven points on James' 85-yard pick-six. The Jaguars also recorded five sacks for 18 yards. 
• Finishing drives: Southern went 3-for-3 in the red zone and converted its only fourth-down attempt. Kentucky State went 1-for-2 in the red zone and failed on all four fourth-down tries. 
• Third-quarter surge: Southern scored touchdowns on consecutive drives of 70 and 77 yards, stretching a 13-2 halftime lead to 27-2. 

By the numbers

200 — Passing yards for Johnson, with two touchdowns and no interceptions.

107 — Rushing yards for Holly on 21 carries, along with two touchdowns.

85 — Yards on James' interception return for Southern's first score.

5 — Sacks by Southern's defense.

10 — Tackles for loss recorded by the Jaguars.

3-for-3 — Southern's red-zone efficiency.

0-for-4 — Kentucky State on fourth down.

386 — Southern's total offense: 200 passing and 186 rushing.

27 — Southern points scored between the start of the second quarter and the 5:09 mark of the third.

15,094 — Announced attendance at A.W. Mumford Stadium. 

The Jaguars improved to 1-1, with Johnson's 200-yard, two-touchdown performance complementing a rushing attack and defense that supplied the decisive plays.